Motörhead

Members: Phil Campbell, Mikkey Dee, Lemmy Kilmister

Active: 1975-present

Motorhead is an iconic British heavy metal band formed in 1975 by bassist, singer and songwriter Lemmy Kilmister (real name Ian Kilmister). The name was derived from a slang term for an amphetamine user.

Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine writes that "Mot?rhead's overwhelmingly loud and fast style of heavy metal was one of the most groundbreaking styles the genre had to offer in the late '70s" and suggests that their blending of punk rock's speed and attitude with more traditional heavy metal music "created speed metal and thrash metal." Whether they created these genres might be subject to debate, but Mot?rhead are unquestionably influential.

While the band are typically classified as heavy metal or speed metal, Kilmister has refused such labels, preferring to describe Motorhead's style simply as "rock and roll." Mot?rhead's lyrics cover such topics as war, good versus evil, abuse of power, promiscuous sex, substance abuse, and "life on the road"the latter is portrayed in songs like "(We Are) The Road Crew", "Iron Horse/Born to Lose", and "Keep Us on the Road."

HISTORY

After being sacked from Hawkwind in 1975, supposedly for "doing the wrong drugs," Kilmister decided to form a new band, originally to be called Bastard. Realising that this would preclude them from commercial acceptance, he eventually settled on Motorhead, after a song he had written for Hawkwind. His stated aim was for the outfit to be "the dirtiest rock n' roll band in the world" and that "if this band moved in next door - your lawn would die".

The first line-up of the band featured Larry Wallis (ex-Pink Fairies) on guitar and Lucas Fox on drums. Their first gig was at The Roundhouse, London, on July 20, 1975. They recorded sessions at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, during which Fox left to be replaced by drum virtuoso Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. The sessions did not see the light of day until they were opportunistically released in 1979, once the band was becoming popular. Deciding that two guitarists were required, the band recruited "Fast" Eddie Clarke, but Wallis left during the auditions and so the idea was shelved. The trio of Kilmister, Clarke, and Taylor is today regarded as the "classic" Mot?rhead line-up.

Initial reactions to the band were unfavourable: they memorably won a poll for "Worst Band in the World" in one music magazine.

The band's first official album release was the self-titled Motorhead, released in 1977. By this time, the standard of their performances had improved considerably, and the uncompromising nature of their music was beginning to garner a following from enthusiasts of both metal and punk. Follow-up albums Overkill and Bomber cemented their reputation as one of Britain's foremost heavy metal groups.

In the early 1980s, they had UK Top 40 chart hits with singles and EPs such as "Ace of Spades," "Motorhead (live)," "Iron Fist," The Golden Years and the St. Valentine's Day Massacre EP - their collaboration with 'apprentices' Girlschool. Many fans regard "Ace of Spades" as the definitive Mot?rhead anthem. They also consider the albums Ace of Spades and the live No Sleep 'til Hammersmith to be among the best such works of their era, as well as the band's most commercially successful releases.

In 1982, Motorhead recorded and released Stand By Your Man, a cover version of the Tammy Wynette classic, with Wendy O. Williams of the Plasmatics. Clarke felt that this compromised the band's principles and resigned to be replaced by Brian Robertson, formerly with Thin Lizzy. Robertson only lasted for one album (1983's Another Perfect Day) having caused friction in the band due to his refusal to play their most popular tunes. The group then returned to the concept of dual guitars by hiring Wurzel and Phil Campbell (ex-Persian Risk). In 1984 a rare line-up of Kilmister, Campbell, Wurzel and Taylor played "Ace of Spades" in Bambi, an episode of the British sitcom The Young Ones. Taylor left the band after that recording, and was replaced by Pete Gill.

Taylor returned to Motorhead in 1987 and continued playing in the group until 1992. In 1992, he was fired after recording "I Ain't No Nice Guy" because he didn't learn the drum tracks. Mikkey Dee became his permanent replacement, after the short and disappointing engagement of Tommy Aldridge on the album March or Die. When Wurzel left in 1995, Motorhead returned as a three-man line-up and celebrated Lemmy's 50th Birthday with Metallica.

In 2005, Motorhead picked up their first Grammy Award in the "Best Metal Performance" category for their cover of Metallica's "Whiplash".

On December 10th 2005 in Perth, Western Australia, Mot?rhead and Motley Crue played an encore together onstage of "Anarchy in the UK", a worldwide first.

The umlaut over the in their name is a record-cover art conceit, possibly derived from the similar "Heavy metal umlaut" in the name of the Blue oyster Cult. However, the band's name is not pronounced as the German usage; instead, Lemmy pronounces it (IPA) /'mautahed/. Lemmy is also quoted to have "put the umlaut on the middle-O in order to make the name more 'German-looking,' meaner!"

The band's mainstream success has dwindled since the late 1980s, but Motorhead retains a large and loyal fanbase and continues to record and tour extensively. Many modern hard rock, heavy metal and punk rock groups cite the band as an important influence.

Lemmy Kilmister is the only member of Motorhead who has been in all of the line-ups, although Phil Taylor has played with all of the guitarists (Larry Wallis, "Fast" Eddie Clarke, Brian Robertson, Phil Campbell and Wurzel).

Motorhead in WWE

Motorhead is well-known in the professional wrestling community for performing popular wrestler Triple H's entrance music, "The Game," beginning in 2001. In addition to the track being heard live nearly every Monday on WWE RAW and at numerous other wrestling shows, the band has performed the song live at two WrestleMania events, WrestleMania X-Seven and WrestleMania 21. They also provided the entrance music for Triple H's now defunct Faction, Evolution. "The Game" was released on both the Hammered album and WWF The Music Volume 5, and the Evolution theme song (titled "Line in the Sand") was released on the WWE ThemeAddict album. Since then, Mot?rhead has performed a new track titled "King of Kings" emphasizing Triple H's new "King of Kings" character. "King of Kings" will be released on the new WWE Wreckless Intent CD in May 2006.

Triple H has confessed to have been a lifelong Motorhead fan. Lemmy Kilmister and Phil Campbell were both in the audience on the May 8, 2006 Anaheim, California edition of RAW along with Luke Perry and Billy Gibbons.

ALBUMS

1977 - Motorhead Chiswick Records Recorded in two days

1979 - Overkill

1979 - Bomber

1979 - On Parole United Artists Unofficial release of 1975 recording session

1980 - Ace of Spades

1981 - No Sleep 'til Hammersmith Live album

1982 - Iron Fist

1983 - Another Perfect Day

1984 - No Remorse compilation album

1986 - Orgasmatron Working title was Ridin' With The Driver

1987 - Rock 'n' Roll Guest appearance by Michael Palin

1988 - No Sleep At All

1991 - 1916 Nominated for a Grammy

1992- March or Die Epic Records With Ozzy Osbourne and Slash

1993 - Bastards

1995 - Sacrifice

1996 - Overnight Sensation

1999 - Everything Louder Than Everyone Else Live, two disc album

2000 - We Are Mot?rhead

2000 - The Best Of Metal-Is/Sanctuary Two disc compilation album

2002 - Hammered Steamhammer/Guest appearance by Triple H

2003 - Live at Brixton Academy Steamhammer/ Live, two disc album

2004 - Inferno Steamhammer/Guest appearance by Steve Vai

2005 - BBC Live & In-Session Sanctuary 2CD, various live recordings from 1978-1986

2006 - Kiss of Death

EP'S

1980 - The Golden Years Bronze

1980 - Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers Big Beat

1981 - St. Valentine's Day Massacre

Collaboration with Girlschool, using the monicker Headgirl

1982 - Stand By Your Man EP Bronze Collaboration with Plasmatics

1992 - The '92 Tour EP

DVD'S

2001 - 25 & Alive Boneshaker

2002 - Mot?rhead EP

2002 - The Best of Motorhead

2003 - The Special Edition EP

2004 - Everything Louder than Everything Else

2005 - Stage Fright